PeNToMinoes - The Bourbon Trail and Bardstown, KY

On my all too brief trip to Bourbon Country and Bardstown, KY, I had time to complete the goal that I had set out but I saw so much more that I would love to experience. Luckily for me I live only about 40 miles away so I can go back and do these later.

Here are 5 "PeNToMinoes" not in the 1000 Places book that you should consider if you get to Bourbon Country.

1. This is the one I did get to do -- Visit The Old Talbott Tavern (Official Site). I had lunch at this historic inn and travern that sets smack on the Courthouse Square. It now operates as a restaurant, hotel and bed & breakfast. It has a very colorful past. Here is a clip from their website:

The old stone reminder of Bardstown's beginnings still welcomes visitors to
the bustling downtown area. Since the late 1700s, the Old Talbott Tavern on
Court Square has provided shelter, food and drink to Kentucky travelers.

Talbott Tavern is said to be the oldest western stagecoach stop in
America as the westward expansion brought explorers from the east into
Kentucky.

According to legend, figures straight from the history books sought
lodging here during their travels; as a young boy Abraham Lincoln and his family
stayed here, Gen. George Rogers Clark, Daniel Boone, and exiled French King
Louis Phillipe and his entourage stayed here, even painting murals on the
upstairs walls. There are noticeable bullet holes in the now faded paintings and
Jesse James is said to be responsible for them.

Riiiiight. Hey, it's possible. Jesse James mother lived in my hometown of Brandenburg and I have slept in her bedroom. She wasn't there at the time. ;) But that's a story for another time.

Anyway, if you go to the Old Talbott Tavern, go for the history because the food is just average. Nothing wrong with it but it would definitely not make it onto my Roadfood Blog of the best places to eat on the road.

Oh, one more thing -- it's said to be haunted. Maybe it's Jesse.

2. Walk the Courthouse Square (Bardstown Official Site) Bardstown is proud of its history and it have reason to be. It is Kentucky's second oldest city and has one of the largest collections of late 18th and early 19th century buildings in the Southern United States. There is even a recreation of a frontier village right on the Courthouse Square. This is the other PeNToMino I had time for and I am glad. I love reading those little history plaques they put on old buildings.

Across from the Old Talbott Tavern there is a drugstore that still has an authentic lunch counter. If the noon crowd is any indication this would have been a much better choice for lunch though I would have probably had to wait until 3 or 4 pm to get a seat. Next time.

3. Visit a Distillery or Two. I know, this is in the book and I did it, but it is still worth mentioning and doing. I visited Heaven Hill, the closest to downtown, but there are dozens more distilleries within minutes of Bardstown including the world famous Jim Beam and Maker's Mark Distilleries.

4. Kentucky Railway Museum (Official Site) See a wealth of old engines and cars from a time when trains ruled the west at Kentucky's official railway museum. Take a ride through the scenic Rolling Fork River Valley on the dinner train.

5. Abbey of Gethsemani (Official Site -- Check out this address -- http://www.monks.org/) The center offers displays and a video presentation about monastery life as well as a gift shop with Gethsemani Farms products. The Abbey, founded in 1848 by the Order of Trappist Cistercians, is home today to Trappist monks who open doors to spiritual seekers from all over the world.

There is so much to do in and around Bardstown that it may be best just to make a weekend of it. There are several B&B's listed on the official site that look good and I saw at least two right downtown on the square. Who wants to drive home after all that bourbon sampling anyway.

Mark

Not sure when this photo was taken but the two corner buildings are still there. The one on the left is where the lunch counter is.